Battery Life

[stephen.robins]

Knowledgeable Members,
I recently noticed that the battery on my 2013 Boxster is the original one, made in 2012. I was just wondering how long these batteries last before problems start to appear. The car is low mileage and kept garaged on a battery conditioner. It starts first time and there are no electrical problems. Am I just lucky or should I take preventative measures and replace it?
Thanks Steve

 

[911hillclimber]

13 years is a long time!
My 987.2 is on it's 3rd battery, left outside, no charging etc, but run every 7 or so days and driven every time if no snow.

I sometime charge it if that is not possible for about 4 hours.

The car has once lost it's battery on me and the car was dead. Could not get in etc at all electrically, but happened at home and the car last run 13 days before.

That was 3 years ago. Car was perfect up to then.

If it is playing on your mind change it imho.

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Stephen,

Oddly enough a few weeks ago I replaced the original Moll battery on my 2009 987.2 Cayman S …that’s close to 16-years! Although still functioning, start-up was becoming a little bit laboured so I decided to replace it before the inevitable happened, possibly leaving me stranded.

Like your Boxster, mine is a low mileage car which I’ve kept religiously on a battery conditioner when not in use. As Graham has said, if you’re concerned then probably it’s best to replace it, if only for peace of mind.

Jeff

 

[BrianJ]

Hi Stephen, presumably your 2013 car is a 981 with an AGM battery whilst I am pretty sure that the 987.2 had an old-style lead acid type which in my experience don't last nearly so long. I don't think it is unusual for AGM batteries used like yours to last as long as yours has but like you I have always worried a bit about timing for replacement. Sod's Law says when it goes it will be on a bank holiday 200 miles from nowhere in particular and you'll be stuffed. Of course it depends whether you have had the car from new and you've always treated the battery like you do now or whether multiple owners who couldn't care less have been involved, how long you plan to keep the car and whether you have a Porsche Approved Warranty which insists on a Porsche replacement at a much higher than typical market price. If you don't have a Porsche Approved Warranty (as I didn't with my previous 2013 981) I would be inclined to get a direct replacement such as https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/bosch/s5a11/ which you can fit yourself in about 30 mins, which is what I did when I started having doubts on my previous 2013 car. You should really get someone to register the new battery to the car's systems which allegedly ensures that the charging circuit recognises that the charging characteristics have changed. I didn't do that and didn't have any problems. Depending on your local suppliers, Halfords, the AA and the RAC etc (even if not a member) will fit and code new batteries at your home - check their web sites. Hope that helps.

 

[rich mich]

my 981 boxster is a 2013 plate and still on original battery as well, car has only done 19k from new its on a charger when in the garage over winter,i bought one of those gooloo jump packs just in case and to use on my other cars and bikes.

 

[stephen.robins]

Hi Stephen, presumably your 2013 car is a 981 with an AGM battery whilst I am pretty sure that the 987.2 had an old-style lead acid type which in my experience don't last nearly so long. I don't think it is unusual for AGM batteries used like yours to last as long as yours has but like you I have always worried a bit about timing for replacement. Sod's Law says when it goes it will be on a bank holiday 200 miles from nowhere in particular and you'll be stuffed. Of course it depends whether you have had the car from new and you've always treated the battery like you do now or whether multiple owners who couldn't care less have been involved, how long you plan to keep the car and whether you have a Porsche Approved Warranty which insists on a Porsche replacement at a much higher than typical market price. If you don't have a Porsche Approved Warranty (as I didn't with my previous 2013 981) I would be inclined to get a direct replacement such as https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/bosch/s5a11/ which you can fit yourself in about 30 mins, which is what I did when I started having doubts on my previous 2013 car. You should really get someone to register the new battery to the car's systems which allegedly ensures that the charging circuit recognises that the charging characteristics have changed. I didn't do that and didn't have any problems. Depending on your local suppliers, Halfords, the AA and the RAC etc (even if not a member) will fit and code new batteries at your home - check their web sites. Hope that helps.

Brian,
Thanks for your comments. Yes it is a 981. It has a Porsche Approved Warranty which means that I'm also covered for roadside assistance if the battery dies and I'm stranded. I recently took it on a weekend away and it showed 12.5 volts on start up and 15 volts when running so there does not appear to be any problems. However, as the new battery is not expensive, I'm tempted to replace it myself and don't see why it would invalidate the warranty as the Bosch battery is probably OEM. May check with Porsche first to be on the safe side!
Steve

 

[BrianJ]

I think you will find that Porsche insist on fitting a Porsche-branded Banner battery which is about 3 x more expensive than anybody else's. However, there have been some indications that others have recently experienced a change of heart so please report your experience to inform others (including me!). Good luck.

 

[Motorhead]

Stephen,

If you check the battery details you should be able to source online [Tanya?] the correct Banner battery fitted to your 981. It’ll require coding, but any garage - including a Porsche Independent - with some decent diagnostics should be able to do this for you.

Jeff